Don't Let Gop Hog Moral High Ground

September 21, 2005|Julia Diaz BOCA RATON

So Thomas Sowell ("Storm's hit revealed moral devastation," Sept. 9) takes this opportunity to proclaim the revelation of America's moral degradation exposed by Hurricane Katrina. He even claims that the tens of thousands of survivors left in New Orleans "chose to stay." In an attempt to give the powers that be the moral out, he ponders, "Who can look back honestly at his own life without seeing many things that could have been done better?" The arrogance! They get the benefit of seeing their failures as a learning lesson. We're just morally corrupt, or worse, criminals.

Well, that is it, America. I have had it. It is time for us all to ponder this alleged moral degradation of the middle, working and poor classes of this great country. Because according to the Republican Party and the media elitists who espouse their beliefs, we do not matter. They can manage great without us. Their sins are forgivable -- ours will lead to the downfall of society.

Let's look beyond the poor, black, Hispanic and middle class amoral masses and the supposed "situational ethics" he accuses us of. Tax cuts for the richest 1 percent of Americans at the expense of programs for the neediest Americans. Power barons accused, convicted and sentenced of bilking billions of dollars from investors and corporations. An energy policy, that even before Katrina, has strained the pockets of small businesses and consumers. DeLay, Gingrich, et al. You all know I could go on.

It is time for regular Americans to refuse to allow the Republican Party the moral high ground. These people do not like you. Like Mr. Sowell, I am sure there will be more than enough blame to go around. I'm just not ready to blame the most helpless first.